The Public Relations Blog

Investigative reporters approach stories quite differently from daily beat reporters. They aren’t looking for announcements or expert commentary to support their articles. They’re looking for patterns and inconsistencies and working for accountability.

Understanding how investigative journalists work can help your company spot risks, evaluate media opportunities more effectively, and anticipate questions that may catch your expert off guard.

When a reporter calls for expert insight, they’re not asking for something an AI assistant could write. They want real perspective. Industry experience. A quote that helps move the story forward.

And yet, some companies still try to save time by responding with AI-generated answers. The problem? Reporters can spot it instantly. It’s vague. It’s safe. And it’s missing the voice of someone who actually knows what they’re talking about.

Mistakes happen. A quote gets trimmed a little too much, and the meaning isn’t as clear or completely changes. A statistic is printed incorrectly. A headline lands in a way that makes you wince. You feel pressure to get it changed ASAP.

Most media pages are designed for the brand, not for journalists. They’re filled with marketing language, outdated and irrelevant links, broken images, or PDFs buried behind four clicks. Then companies wonder why reporters don’t use them or why the coverage they earn doesn’t get the facts right.

Learn how to adapt marketing and communication plans for AI search with messaging, content, and media tactics that boost trust and visibility.

Marketing and communication plans are changing fast with AI search. Search is no longer just a list of blue links. People ask full questions to tools like Google SGE, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot, and they expect clear, simple answers in seconds. Those answers are shaping how buyers, partners, job candidates, and reporters see your brand.

Reputation, credibility, and media relationships develop over time. Companies expecting immediate results from PR often misunderstand how earned media actually works.

Many executives approach public relations expecting quick results, similar to advertising. In reality, earned media works differently. In this article, Axia Public Relations explains why successful PR strategies unfold over years and why consistent effort produces the strongest results.

How you connect with reporters should follow a pattern.

As you cultivate relationships with reporters, you and your company can become trusted, go-to sources for their stories. To build these connections, it’s crucial to communicate effectively. Reporters appreciate sources who respond clearly, concisely, and in the same "vernacular" they use in their articles.

In this episode, Brett Farmiloe joins host Jason Mudd to discuss the comeback of HARO and smarter PR pitching.

Tune in to learn more!

Your company doesn’t always have big announcements, but you still need attention in top-tier publications. A strong PR strategy doesn’t rely solely on launches or major milestones. Consistent earned media and strategic media relations protect and grow your brand’s authority, credibility, and visibility.

When you don’t have big news to share, manufacture timeliness, refine your pitch structure and voice, use credible data, and follow up thoughtfully to secure media coverage.

In this solocast, On Top of PR host Jason Mudd discusses the ethical and practical differences between exclusives, advances, and embargoes and how to use them correctly in media relations.

Tune in to learn more!